Angle cock



S. McKNlGHT Jan. 14, 1936.

2 Sheets-Shea 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANGLE COCK s. MCKNIGHT Filed April 12, 1935 Jan. 14, 1936.

zepa m fmzfylzz Attorney Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 12,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in angle cocks and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying novel locking means through the medium of which the engineer of a train will have full control of the air brake system of the entire train at all times.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an automatic locking means for angle cocks embodying a construction, combination and arrangement which is such that closing of the angle cocks by unauthorized persons while pressure is in the train line will be prevented.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an angle cock of the aforementioned character including means whereby the engineer may, by setting or applying the brakes, unlock the angle cock to permit trainmen to close the angle cock'when cars are to be disconnected.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an angle cock of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an angle cock constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. I Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2. Figure '7 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, the moving parts being omitted.

Figure 8 is a detail view in bottom plan of the lower clutch member.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical 1935, Serial No. 16,075

section, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of- Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a detail view in bottom plan of the upper clutch member together with the springv which disengages the same, the latter being shown in horizontal section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a casing 1 which, as usual, is connected with the train pipe 2. Rotatably mounted in the casing I is a tapered plug 3 the upper end portion 4 of which is adapted to have connected thereto the usual operating handle. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, an integral web 5 traverses the plug 3 in the casing i, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Threadedly mounted in the casing 2 and depending therefrom is an upper cylinder 6 in which a piston 'l is operable. A flat ring 8 is mounted in the upper portion of the cylinder 6 and constitutes a support for a coil spring 9 which yieldingly urges the plug 3 upwardly in the casing I in a manner to maintain a snug fit and compensate for wear. The reference numeral 10 designates a substantially cylindrical housing which is secured, as by a nut II, to the lower end of the upper cylinder 6. Threadedly mounted in the lower end portion of the housing IE! is a lower cylinder I2 in which a piston 13 is operable, said piston 13 having mounted thereon a weight 14. A cap 15 is threaded on the lower end of the lower cylinder i2 and projecting from said cap is a nipple Iii for connection with the brake cylinder pipe.

Depending from the plug 3 is a stem I! which is threadedly engaged in the web 5 and secured by a cotter pin H3. The stem ll extends downwardly through the upper cylinder 6 into the housing I0 and terminates in a substantially square lower end portion I9. The piston I is slidable on the stem l'l. Slidably mounted on the lower end portion IQ of the stem I1 is an upper clutch member 20 which includes an upstanding neck 2| engaged beneath the piston l. The clutch member 26 is engageable with a complemental clutch member 22 which is rotatably mounted on a seat 23 which is provided therefor in the housing If). A coil spring 24 is provided between the members 20 and 22 for yieldingly urging the former out of engagement with the latter.

As illustrated to advantage in Figures 7 and 9 of the drawings, teeth 25 are formed in the lower portion of the housing l0 and engageable therewith is a lower clutch member 26 which includes a depending neck 2! (see Figure 2) the lower portion of the bore of which is substantially square, as at 28. A stem 29 depends from the clutch member 22 and terminates in a. substantially square lower end portion slidably engaged in the portion 28 of the neck 21. A weight 30 encircles the stem 29 and rests on the clutch member 26 for engaging said clutch member with the teeth 25. The clutch member 26 is disengaged from the teeth 25 whenv air under sufficient pressure enters the lower cylinder l2 to raise the piston l 3 with the weight I4 thereon, said weight M engaging the lower end of the neck 21. The lower end of the plug 3 is provided with a port 3| which permits air to enter the upper cylinder 6 above the piston 1.

Briefly, the operation of the invention is as follows:-

With pressure in the train pipe 2, air from the casing I enters the upper cylinder 6 through the port 3| and forces the piston downwardly, thus engaging the clutch member 29 with the clutch member 22 against the tension of the spring 24. As the clutch member 22 is secured against rotation through the stem 29 and the clutch member 26, it will be seen that rotation of the plug 3 is positively prevented. However, when a trainman or other authorized person desires to close the angle cock, as when the car is to be disconnected, the engineer of the train may permit this to be done by setting or applying the brakes, thus discharging air under suflicient pressure in to the lower cylinder I2 to raise the piston IS with the weight M thereon, said weight H5, in turn, engaging and raising the clutch member 26 to disengaged or inoperative position, thus unlocking the plug 3 and permitting said plug to be turned by the usual handle. Of course, as soon as the air in the lower cylinder i2 falls below a predetermined pressure the weight 30 again engages the clutch member 26 with the teeth 25 and the weight I4 returns the piston l3 to inoperative position.

It is believed that the many advantages of an angle cock constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the; combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An angle cock comprising a casing, a plug operable in said casing, a cylinder mounted on said casing and having communication therewith, a housing mounted on said cylinder, a stem extending from the plug into said housing, means for releasably locking said stem to the housing, resilient means for disconnecting said locking means, and a fluid operated piston slidably mounted on the stem and operable in the cylinder for engaging the locking means.

2., An angle cock comprising a casing, a plug operable in said casing, a cylinder mounted on said casing and having communication therewith, a housing mounted on said cylinder, a ring" mounted in the cylinder, said plug including a web at an, intermediate point, a stem anchored in said web, said stem extending through the ringand the cylinder into the housing, a spring mounted on the ring and encircling the stem and engaged with the plug for yieldingly urging said. plug into seating engagement with the casing, means for releasably locking the stem to the housing, resilient. means for disconnecting said locking means, and a fluid operated piston slidably mounted onv the stem and operable in the cylinder for engaging the locking means.

3. An angle cock comprising a casing, a plug operable in said casing, a cylinder mounted on said casing and, having, communication therewith, a housing mounted on said cylinder, a l

stem connected to the plug, means for releasably locking said. stem to the housing, a fluid operated piston slidable in the cylinder and operatively engageable with the locking means for locking the same, and fluid operated means operatively engageable with the locking means for disconnecting the stem from the housing.

4. An angle cock comprising a casing, a plug operable in said casing, a cylinder mounted on said casing and having communication there- 49 

